Music: {allcanada} EARLY UPSET: NEW BRUNSWICK EDGES ONTARIO IN OPENER AT BRIER

Saturday, March 5, 2011

{allcanada} EARLY UPSET: NEW BRUNSWICK EDGES ONTARIO IN OPENER AT BRIER

LONDON, Ont. -- It didn't take long for the Tim Hortons Brier to see its first upset.

New Brunswick's James Grattan stole two in the 10th end for a 5-4 victory over Ontario's Glenn Howard in Saturday's opening draw at the John Labatt Centre.

Howard needed a draw to the eight-foot for the win. However, his stone was slowed by a thin layer of frost and came up just short, giving Grattan the surprise victory.

"That eight-foot out there felt more like the button today in that game," Grattan said. "It was a lot tougher shot than it looked. That's what we tried to force him into with our last shot. The obvious shot is just to sink one around the corner guard but we wanted him to stick to the middle path and get in the sludgy stuff there.

"And I think that's exactly what it did."

Howard is one of the favourites in a deep field that includes Olympic champion Kevin Martin of Alberta, two-time national champ Jeff Stoughton of Manitoba and Brad Gushue of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Howard, who had a 4-2 lead after eight ends, was frustrated he let it slip away.

"We outplayed them and we had control," Howard said. "But it doesn't matter. I missed my last shot and it cost us the game. I don't feel very good about it."

In other early action, Gushue -- the 2006 Olympic champion -- whipped Prince Edward Island's Eddie MacKenzie 12-1 in seven ends. Stoughton defeated B.C.'s Jim Cotter 10-4 and Saskatchewan's Steve Laycock defeated Jamie Koe of Northwest Territories/Yukon 6-4.

An enthusiastic crowd of 6,392 took in the opening draw.

Martin, who won Olympic gold at the Vancouver Games last year, was scheduled to meet Northern Ontario's Brad Jacobs in Draw 2 on Saturday night. Martin has won 26 straight games at the Brier.

There are 12 teams competing in the round robin -- one rink from each province plus entries from Northern Ontario and the Territories. Four teams will qualify for the Page Playoff next weekend with the final set for March 13.

Notes: Prime Minister Stephen Harper watched the afternoon draw. He was seated 10 rows from ice level. ... This is the 82nd edition of the Canadian men's curling championship. ... The winner will represent Canada at the Ford world men's curling championship in Regina from April 2-10. The winner also receives a berth into the 2011 Canada Cup in Cranbrook, B.C. and the 2012 World Financial Group Continental Cup in Langley, B.C.